
Replace a Missing Tooth
Our firm advice for patients is to consider how they will replace a missing tooth BEFORE the tooth is extracted. If your bone resorbs after a tooth is extracted and you do nothing it makes future treatment with a dental implant very difficult. In these cases, there is no bone available to insert the implant! You should discuss with your dentist how you wish to restore your smile once the tooth is removed.
It’s possible to immediately place a dental implant into the socket as soon as the tooth has been extracted. This option requires careful planning and cannot be decided on the day we remove a tooth. Immediate implants have the distinct advantage of supporting the bone around the extraction site. This offers less bone resorption and a far more predictable cosmetic result once the implant is replaced.